Operatives of the Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) have arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the movement of explosive materials from Ghana into Nigeria, recovering about 50 kilogrammes of the materials in Badagry, Lagos State.
The suspects were identified as 27-year-old Oluwasegun Godwin, 41-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi and 29-year-old Aminu Mohamed, a Nigerian national residing in Ghana.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly played different roles in a suspected supply chain through which explosives were brought into Nigeria and distributed to criminal elements in parts of the North-East, North-Central and other parts of the country.
Speaking during the parade, Commander of the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation aimed at disrupting networks supplying explosives and other materials to criminal groups.
He said the police were focused not only on those who carry out attacks but also on individuals responsible for supplying the weapons and explosives used by such groups.
Godwin was reportedly the first suspect arrested in Badagry, close to the Nigeria-Ghana border, while allegedly transporting the explosive materials into the country. Police said about 50 kilogrammes of explosives contained in 10 bags were recovered from him.
Investigators subsequently traced the suspected supply chain to Abdullahi, who was arrested in Lagos. Police identified the 41-year-old as the alleged receiver of the explosives and said he was responsible for taking delivery of the materials before arranging their movement to criminal elements in parts of the North-East and North-Central.
Mohamed, the third suspect, was arrested over his alleged role in importing the explosives from Ghana. The police said the 29-year-old Nigerian, who resides in Ghana, was allegedly responsible for bringing the materials into Nigeria.
According to the STS, Mohamed allegedly concealed the explosives under the cover of transporting flour to avoid detection while crossing the border.
The police said the three suspects had confessed to their alleged roles, while investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and identify other persons connected to the operation.
The commander said the suspects would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.
Godfrey stressed that disrupting the supply of explosives was critical to preventing attacks by terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, noting that such groups had increasingly relied on explosive devices in carrying out attacks.
He attributed the success of the operation to intelligence gathering and collaboration among security agencies, while acknowledging the support of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
In another operation, the STS paraded a suspect identified as Ihoma Chimaroke, also known as “Morocco,” over his alleged involvement in an attack on security personnel in Eze, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the commander, Chimaroke fled the area after the incident but was later arrested in Obudu, Cross River State, after allegedly attempting to escape by jumping into a river.
The suspect was eventually apprehended after a police operative pursued him into the water.
The commander said about nine suspects linked to the wider Eze incident had so far been arrested, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend two other key suspects still at large.
Police also recovered two AK-49 rifles and an AK-47 rifle, alongside other weapons and ammunition allegedly connected to the suspects.
Godfrey said the operations had helped restore calm in the affected community, adding that security operatives would continue to pursue those still at large.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to expanding intelligence-led operations across the country and dismantling criminal networks involved in terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
The commander also urged members of the public to report suspicious movements, activities and individuals to security agencies, stressing that timely information from communities remained vital to preventing attacks.
He urged Nigerians to embrace the principle, “when you see something, say something,” assuring that credible information would help security agencies respond quickly and disrupt criminal activities.
The STS said it would sustain operations aimed at cutting off the supply of weapons and explosives to criminal groups and bringing individuals involved in violent crimes to justice.
